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IN THE MILITARY
Medics from isles
By Gregg K. Kakesako
stand duty in Philippines
Star-BulletinArmy medics from Tripler Army Medical Center and Schofield Barracks were part of a medical assistance team that provided free care in the Palawan province of the Philippines during the recent joint U.S.-Philippine exercise, "Balikatan 2000."
Army Lt. Col. Braden Shoupe, a Tripler pediatrician, was among a 24-member medical and dental team that provided primary care for respiratory, gastrointestinal, dental and skin disease.
"Most of what we've treated has been skin infections, coughing, wheezing and ear infections," Shoupe said.
Other Hawaii participants included 1st Lt. Dahlia Pacheco, a Tripler nurse, and Staff Sgt. Christopher Hunter, a Schofield Barracks medical technician.
The Army this week began the demolition of Fort Shafter's Skyview Terrace. The noncommissioned officers club was a victim of changing tastes and high maintenance costs.
"The era of military clubs is gone, except for the memories," said Ted Otaguro, director of community activities for the Army in Hawaii. "The Army has transitioned from officer, NCO and enlisted clubs to food, entertainment and beverage facilities to consolidate the services and save money for the taxpayers," he said.
The Army estimated it would have cost more than $2 million to renovate Skyview Terrace, which was built in 1972. That would have taken funds from other badly-needed projects here.
Recently, the Army opened a new food, entertainment and beverage facility -- Hale Ikena at Fort Shafter -- and offers another all-ranks restaurant and club at Schofield Barracks.
Retired Navy Capt. George Street III, a World War II Medal of Honor winner and captain of the submarine Tirante, died in Andover, Mass., on Feb. 26. He was 86.
The exploits of the Tirante served as the inspiration for the movie "Run Silent, Run Deep."
Street won the Medal of Honor for his actions aboard the Tirante on April 14, 1945, off the coast of Korea. The sub was on its first patrol in the harbor of Quelpart Island on that date, when it approached a group of enemy ships anchored 1,200 yards off the coast.
Street, on the surface, fired two torpedoes at a Japanese ammunition ship. Leaving the harbor, he sunk two more vessels.
Adm. Vern Clark, a 32-year Navy veteran who has held 10 commands, has been nominated to the Navy's highest post as chief of naval operations. He will replace Adm. Jay Johnson if his nomination is approved by the Senate. Clark is currently commander-in-chief of the Atlantic Fleet.
The Navy's newest strike fighter -- an F/A-18 Super Hornet -- has completed six months of flights and other tests and will be merged into the fleet in 2002.
The first Pacific Fleet Super Hornet is expected to be assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Lincoln.
The Navy hopes to buy 548 Super Hornets, for about $70 million each, to replace its aging F-14 Tomcats and earlier models of the F/A-18 Hornets.
The new F-18 is larger and more powerful than the original Hornet, with two more weapons stations on its wings. It can also serve as a tanker, replacing the A-6 Intruder, which has been retired.
Navy Public Works Center: Rear Adm. Michael Loose will leave the command at PWC to become vice commander of the Naval Facilities Engineering Command in Washington, D.C.
